Disease Dilemma's - Case Study - Small Pox & Polio - Global eradication strategies

Question 1

What type of disease is smallpox? What are symptoms? Estimated deaths in 20th century? (3)

Answer 1

1) Infectious, communicable, contagious (spread by coughing).

2) Lesions on body.

3) 300-500 million deaths

Question 2

When was it eradicated by? Who ran the campaign, what was it called and between which dates? (2)

Answer 2

1) 1980.

2) W.H.O Smallpox Eradication programme 1966-1980

Question 3

What global strategy did they used to eradicate?

Answer 3

Co-ordinated approach by WHO - got funds from developed countries to fund campaign ($300 million cost). Clear plan lead by WHO guidance implemented by national governments; Surveillance of communities, Isolation of cases & mass vaccination

Question 4

What type of disease is polio? Spread? Global situation in 1952? (3)

Answer 4

1) Infectious, communicable, highly contagious.

2) Direct contact with infected faeces from person/coughing that spreads virus.

3) Endemic in all countries - killed/paralysed 600k a year

Question 5

Global status of Polio in 2021?

Answer 5

1) Only 2 endemic countries - Afghanistan and Pakistan

Question 6

What is the GPEI? When set up? How many countries endemic with disease? Which organisations involved?

Answer 6

1) Global Polio Eradication Intiative 2) 1988 (125 countries endemic at time). 3). WHO, UNICEF, Rotary International (NGO) and Gates Foundation (Private)

Question 7

Where are the polio cases concentrated in Pakistan?

Answer 7

1) NW region (mountains) that border with Afghanistan

Question 8

Physical barriers to eradication of polio in Pakistan?

Answer 8

1) Mountainous region in NW with poor infrastructure - hard for vaccinators to get to that region

Question 9

Social/cultural barriers to eradication of polio in Pakistan?

Answer 9

1) Nomadic tribes/porous borders = tribes move freely between Afghanistan and Pakistan and difficult to track and vaccinate. 2). Religious leaders says oral vaccine was ‘haram’ (forbidden in Islam law) and so many chose not to take it

Question 10

Political barriers to eradication of polio in Pakistan?

Answer 10

1) Porous borders = people not checked/screened and so can spread disease across border easily. 2) CIA set up fake vaccination centres to catch Osama Bin Laden = many do not trust vaccine centres (have been several attacks on them too)

Question 11

Economic barriers to eradication of polio in Pakistan?

Answer 11

1) Pakistan is a LIDC = poor levels of sanitation in rural areas = easy to come in contact with infected faeces